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£7,503

pledged of £3,000 goal

94

backers

Allies on the Frontier - the Stretch Goal

We reached our target in less than half a day - many thanks to all our backers.

There will be just the one stretch goal for this project, a variant on the theme of Anglo-American Provincial soldiers, as often represented, in cut down hats and a variety of legwear - a mix of issue leggings, mitasses (Indian leggings) and uncovered hose. This gives them a very "campaigny" look, enabling their use as separate companies or to mix in with other Provincials to give even greater variety.

Sample sketches of Provincials in Short Coats and Cut Down Hats

The target to free up the stretch goals is £6000.

The stretch goal consists of one full pack of 6 soldiers and a half pack of a corporal and 2 soldiers - all different of course, offered in various combinations; there will also be a sergeant in the same order of dress, he'll be sold as an individual figure when these appear in the shop, but he'll be free to backers with most of the combinations of packs.

To help in reaching the stretch goal bonus, we're introducing an add-on of all 3 existing packs of rangers together with the "Soldiers Free" ranger at a preferential price to backers; some of you may find these a useful addition in support of the newly designed Ranger/Backwoods Militia packs.

When I set about creating our French & Indian War range, what I most wanted to build was the most comprehensive, well researched and engaging range of 28mm figures available for the period. We’re well on the way to that objective with our Mohawk and Huron Native Americans, Canadian Militia, Anglo-American Rangers, Armed Settlers, Militia and Provincials, 18th Century Sailors, British Regular ‘hatmen’ and Compagnies Franches de la Marine in different orders of dress; we're now offering expansions for the Anglo-American "irregulars", starting with Stockbridge Mohicans and more Rangers - who can also be used as "Backwoods Militia".

2 Stockbridge Mohicans

The Stockbridge Mohicans

The Stockbridge Mohicans were descended from Housatonic and Mahican Indians who settled at Reverend John Sergeant's mission and school at Stockbridge, western Massachusetts, established in the 1730s. They were one of the more "assimilated tribes" wearing much European-style clothing and living in towns of board houses, many attending church and school.

From the beginning of the French & Indian War they served in warrior bands, but also within provincial regiments and ranger companies. Captain Jacob Cheeksaunkun raised a company of 45 "Stockbridges" with Lieutenant Jacob Naunauphtaunk and Ensign Soloman Uhauamvaumut.

The Stockbridge Mohicans' day-to-day Europeanised appearance was considered to be less intimidating to the enemy, and, in common with the Mohegans of Connecticut, they were ordered to revert to their traditional Indian wear for war. They were issued muskets, powder horns and bullet bags, shirts and blankets; they wore centre-seam leggings and moccasins. In ranger companies they were issued the same equipment as their fellow rangers. Hair styles varied from a simple scalp-lock to worn long. The strips of red cloth tied around the barrels of their muskets were an expedient to avoid incidents of "friendly fire". Piercing appears not to have been much in evidence, if at all, paint and tattooing were not common.

There will be three packs each of six different Stockbridge Mohicans, and also my take on , dressed in the same style as his men, distinguished as an officer by his silver gorget and proudly sporting his presentation red ostrich plume.

Captain Jacob Cheeksaunkun

This new special character figure will later be available for sale in our online shop, but he will come free to our backers for this project who pledge for five or more six figure packs.

Rangers/Backwoods Militia

There will also be three packs of Rangers/Backwoods Militia in this release, intended to either create new units or to for you to mix in with other packs. They can be painted in ranger uniform or more civilian style colour combinations for frontiersmen, militia and non-uniformed ranger companies. Shown are two of the soldiers from two of these packs; the man in the darker brown coat could take the field as a militiaman in his daily clothing, although I intend to use him as a member of Major Israel Putnam's Connecticut Rangers, who are described as wearing brown coats and green waistcoats.

There will be a greater variety of dress in these packs, and of headwear, including flopped tricorns and cut down hats; the third pack will be of Rangers/Backwoods Militia in shirts.

Risks and challenges

In our second Kickstarter "La Marine", we gave the stretch goal packs the same projected completion date as the original pledges, which in hindsight was a mistake; all the original pledges have gone out to our backers, the stretch goal packs of figures will follow on when they complete production. That was a lesson learned, so this time we'll allow additional time for completing any stretch goals.